String-cutter.



No. 755,869. PATENTBD MAR-29, 1904. G. R. HANNAN & J. c. RODEHAVER.

STRING CUTTER.

APPLICATION rum) 1130. 1a. 1902.

NO MODEL} L :6 Hal.

g kAR/SEM IPatented March 29, 1904.

GEORGE R. HANNAN AND JEssE c. RODEHAVER, OF SAN FRANCISCO,

1 CALIFORNIA.

STRING-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,869, dated March 29, 1904.

Application filed December 13, 1902. Serial No. 135,138. (No model.)

' tion.

With the centralization of business the wrapping of packages and bundles in the large department-stores, laundries, and other places becomes a very important matter, and as it is necessary to tie them with cords or stringsof variant lengths it is desirable that some means be provided for cutting the string and holding the end of the uncut portion in convenient position to be readily grasped for tying the next bundle. In some places the wrapper is provided with an assistant to hand him the string and to cut it off as each bundle is being tied. To avoid this additional labor and yet not consume the time of' the wrapper, first in reaching for the string and then picking up, using, {and laying down a pair of shears or scissors and sometimes searching for them besides, we have invented a string-cutter which can "be operated by other means than the hands, as the foot, and which will hold the string close at hand, out it oif at a suificient length for the bundle being wrapped, and

keep the uncut end in a convenient position to be grasped for the next bundle.

Our invention consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement of parts of a string cutter, as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, of one form of string-cutter embodying our invention, the parts being shown in the position they occupy when the string is being severed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the parts in their normal position. Fig. 3 is an end elevation. The means for operatingthe device are omitted in each of these views. Fig. & is aview of the apparatus complete and in position upon a counter. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional, and end views, re-

spectively, of the gripper for holding the string.

In practicing our invention we provide a base 1, which may be a plate or casting of any suitable size and shape and is secured to the edge of the counter or other support, where it will be within convenient reach of the wrapper. The base is preferably made L-shaped, soas to rest firmly upon its support, and is provided with three standards 2, 3, and 4, one at each end and one substantially at the middle. The upper ends of these standards are perforated in a line with each other, and a sleeve or tube 5 and hollow rod 6 are secured therein. The tube 5 is secured at its ends inthe forward and central standards 2 and 3, and the rod 6 is secured at its rear end in the rear standard 4 and has its forward end projecting into the rear end of the said tube. The rod is so much smaller than the interior diameter of the tube that a hollow plunger 7 can be mounted within the tube and be reciprocated back and forth upon the forward end of the rod. The forward end of this plunger normally stands even with the end of the tube and is provided with a gripper 8, and the rear end is provided with an arm 9, which normally rests against the rear face of the middle standard 3 and limits the forward movement of the plunger. A spring 10 surrounds the rod 6 and forces the plunger 7 forward by resting with its ends'against the rear standard 4 and the arm 9, respectively. 1

Rotatably mounted upon one side of the base 1, as by a pivotll, is a circular. plate or disk 12, to which an oscillatory motion may be applied in any suitable mannerfor instance, by a strap or rod 13 and a treadle 14.. A link 15 is pivotally secured to the plate 12 at one end and to the arm 9 at the other, the end of the arm being preferably bent at an angle to afford a broad and substantial bearing for the connecting end of the link. The forward end of the link 15 is located substan: tially diametrically opposite the pivotal point of the treadle-strap 13, so that when the plate 12 is rotated by the depression of the treadle 14 the link will be forced longitudinally to the rear, which will carry the plunger 7 against the pressure of the spring 10, and thereby withdraw the forward end of the plunger and its gripper 8 the desired distance from the cutting apparatus. As soon as the pressure is removed from the treadle the spring on the rod 6 will expand and force the parts back into their normal positions ready for the next operation.

The cutting apparatus consists of a fixed and a movable blade 16 and 17, respectively. As shown, the fixed blade 16 is provided with a perforated lug 18, by means of which it can be removably secured in front of the forward end of the tube 5 by a screw 19, and the outer face of the cutter is made substantially even with the outer end of this tube, so that when the movable blade 17 is operated it will have a good broad bearing-surface to cause it to move in a direct line past the other blade without the liability of its slipping over the cord or string without cutting it. The movable blade is pivoted at one side of the end. of the tube, as at 20, and its free end is confined or pressed against the other blade by means of a guide 21, which will also assist in preventing its slipping over the cord without cutting it. The movable blade 17 is operated by the oscillation of the disk 12 through the agency of a lever 22, mounted on the pivot 11 at one end and connected with this blade at the other end by a connector 23. The intermediate portion of the lever is provided with a stud or pin 24, which projects through a segmental slot 25 near the periphery of the disk. An abutment 26 may be secured upon the side of the disk at the lower end of the slot 25 in position to engage with the lever and assist in forcing it upward when the disk is rotated. The slot is of such a length that when the parts are standing in their normal position or at rest the stud will occupy the upper end of the slot; but when the disk has been rotated sufiiciently to move the plunger 7 backward nearly the desired distance the lower end of the slot will engage with the stud and force the free end of the lever upward, and with it the connector and the outer end of the movable blade. By the time this blade has been forced past the fixed blade and severed the string the plunger will have been forced back to the desired limit of its movement and a portion of the string equal to the length of said movement will have been drawn through the gripper 8 and will be lying between the gripper and the cutter, ready to be pushed out of the end of the tube 5 as soon as the cutter has been operated, and the parts resume their normal positions. A spring 27 is provided on the side of the base and arranged to bear against the top of the lever 22 to force it downward, and thereby keep the blades 16 and 17 normally open or apart. A

stop 28 may also be provided at the forward end of the base to engage with the outer end or shank of the movable blade and prevent it from being carried so far as to place it on a dead-center with the connector 23, which would interfere with its subsequent operation when the treadle is depressed.

The gripper 8 is preferably made removable, as by being screwed into the forward end of the plunger 7, so that it can be taken of! when the machine is being threaded. It is provided with jaws 29, which permit the string being freely drawn out between them in one direction, but prevent its being drawn in the opposite direction. We have shown these jaws as made of thin strips of spring metal, which are set at an angle in the walls of the gripper, so as to extend toward each other even to being in actual contact near the forward end of the gripper-body. This construction will admit of the cord or string be ing introduced from the rear end of the body and drawn out at the front end, but will prevent its return.

The cord or string being used with our improved cutter may be wound upon a spool, as 30, and held in any suitable receiver, as 31, at or near the rear end of the cutter.

A suitable cover or shield 32 (shown only in section in Fig. 4;) is provided for covering the operating mechanism and preventing its coming in contact with and soiling any articles being wrapped and also preventing other objects coming in contact with and catching upon or breaking said mechanism.

In using our string-cutter it is secured in the desired position upon the edge of the wrapping-counter or other support, as by means of screws through the base, and the cord or string is passed through the hollow rod from the rear and through the plunger and gripper, the gripper being preferably removed until the string has been passed through it, when it can be returned to its normal position with a portion of the string projecting therefrom. When it is desired to tie a bundle, the wrapper takes hold of the projecting end of the string and draws it out as far as necessary to encircle his bundle and when about to tie the last knot presses down the treadle with his foot. This will retract the plunger and cause the gripper to slide freely over the cord, which is being held taut by the operator, and will also 0perate the cutting mechanism. As soon as the string has been severed and the trcadle released the parts are instantly restored to their normal position, with a short piece of string projecting from the forward end of the gripper in convenient position to be grasped by the wrapper and drawn out when another bundle is to be tied. As the gripper projects from the tube a short distance, this will cause the string to hang away from the front standard of the base, and thereby enable the wrapper to grasp it more readily. Our invention, it will be observed, leaves the operator free to use his two hands to tie with and obviates the necessity of removing either hand from the bundle in the operation of wrapping or tying.

ting the cord. As the cutter is simple in its construction and operation and the parts are made strong and durable, the machine is rendered positive in its action and not liable to get out of order.

Although we have shown what we consider the most desirable manner of constructing our string-cutter, it is manifest that there may be changes and alterationsin the same from what we have shown, and we reserve the right to make all such changes and variations as Wlll come within the scope of our invention.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Let- V ters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a string-cutter, a reciprocatory member, a cutter, and means for imparting move ment to the reciprocatory member, and operating the cutter only when the member is in its retracted position, said means including a disk'having a pivotal connection with said reciprocatory member and cutter.

2. In a string-cutter, a reciprocatory member, a cutter at a distance in advance of said member, a disk having a pivotal connection with said reciprocatory member and cutter, and means for operating the disk.

3. In a string-cutter, a support, a cutter, a plunger upon the support, a disk operatively associated 'with'the plunger and cutter for simultaneously operating them, and a treadle connected with the disk.

4. In a string-cutter,.a support, a guideway upon the support, a cutter at the forward end of the support, a plunger in the guideway, an oscillatory disk onthe side of the support, connecting means between the disk and plunger, a connection between the disk and cutter, and means associated with the connecting means for the disk and cutter, for oper ating the latter when the disk is oscillated.

5. In a string-cutter, a support, a guideway upon the support, a cutter atthe forward end of the support, a plunger in the guideway, an oscillatory disk on the side of the support, connecting means between the disk and plunger, a connection between the disk and cutter, and a treadle operatively associated with the connecting means for the disk and cutter, for operating the latter when the disk is oscillated.

6. In a string-cutter, a tube, a reciprocatory member therein, a gripper carried by said reciprocatory member and provided with oppositely-arranged inclined spring-j aws, the front ends of which approach each other and engage with the string and prevent its movement except in one direction, said reciprocatory member and gripper being entirely inclosed by said tube and a cutter at a distance from said gripper when the member is in its retracted position, substantially as described.

7. In a string-cutter, a reciprocatorymem-.

ber, the front end of which is provided with a gripper having a screw-threaded connection therewith, said gripper being arranged to engage with the string and preventingitsmovement except in one direction, and a cutter at a distance in front of said means when the member is in its retracted position, su bstan tially as described.

8. In a string-cutter, a hollow reciprocatory member, a gripper having a screw-threaded portionremovably secured in theforward end thereof, and a cutter at a distance in front of said gripper when the member is in its retracted position, substantially as described.

9. In a string-cutter, a hollow plunger, a hollow tubular support having a continuous uninterrupted inner surface for forming a I guideway for the plunger, means for reciprocating the plunger through said support, and a cutter at a distance from the forward end of the plunger when in its retracted position, substantially as described.

10. In a string-cutter, a tubular guideway, a hollow reciprocatory plunger slidably mounted therein and inclosed thereby, a cutter at the forward end of the tube, and means for moving theforward end of the plunger through said tube and away from said cutter, substantially as described.

11. In a string-cutter, a tube, a spring-actuated plunger therein and inclosed thereby, the forward end of which is provided with a gripper, a. cutter at the forward end of the tube, and means for withdrawingthe gripper to a distance from the cutter, substantially as Y described.

12. In a string-cutter, a tube, a hollow rod projecting into the rear end thereof, a hollow plunger in the tube, the rear end of which fits upon the rod, a spring on the rod in engagement with the plunger, a cutter at the forward end of the tube, and means for reciprocating the plunger to withdraw its forward end to the rear of the cutter, substantially as described.

13. In a string-cutter, a support provided with three standards, a tube mounted upon two of said standards and a hollow rod secured to the other standard with its forward end projecting into the rear end of the tube, a hollow plunger in the tube, the rear end of which fits upon the rod, a spring on the rod between the rear standard and the rear end of the plunger, a cutter at the forward end of the tube, and means for simultaneously withdrawing the plunger and operating the cutter, substantially as described.

14:. In a string-cutter, a support, a tubular guideway mounted thereon having a cutter at its forward end, a reciprocatory plunger in the tube and surrounded thereby, adisk on r the support connected with the plunger and the cutter, and means for oscillating the disk, substantially as described.

15. In a string-cutter, a support, a tube mounted thereon having a cutter at its forward end, a spring-impelled hollow plunger in the tube, an oscillatory disk on the side of the support, a link connected with the disk and with the rear end of the plunger, and a lever mounted at the center of the disk at one end and connected with the cutter at the other, and means for engaging with the intermediate portion of the lever for operating the cutter when the disk is oscillated. substantially as described.

16. In a string-cutter, a support, a cutter, a hollow plunger movable toward and from the cutter, an oscillatory disk on the support and provided with a segmental slot, a link connected with the disk and with the rear end of the plunger, a lever mounted at the center of the disk at one end and connected with the cutter at the other, and a pin on the intermediate portion for engaging with one end of the slot and actuating the cutter by the time the plunger reaches the limit of its rearward movement, substantially as described.

17. In a string-cutter, a support, a cutter, a hollow spring-impelled plunger, the rear end of which is provided witha bent arm, an oscillatory disk, a link connected therewith and with the bent portion of the arm, a springpressed lever, a connection from the free end thereof to the cutter, and means on the disk for engaging with the intermediate portion of the lever to actuate the cutter, substantially as described.

18. In astring-cutter, a support, a cutter, a spring-impelled plunger, an oscillatory disk connected with the plunger and with the cutter for simultaneously operating them, and a treadle operatively connected with the disk, substantially as described.

19. In a string-cutter, a support, a cutter thereon comprising a stationary and a pivoted blade, a guide for holding said blades against each other when in operative relation to each other, and a member movable toward and from the cutter, said member being at its farthest point from the cutter when the cutter is operating, substantially as described.

20. In a string-cutter, a support, a cutter thereon comprising a stationary and a pivoted blade, a guide at the free end of the pivoted blade for holding it against the stationary blade, and a reciprocatory member movable toward and from said cutter, substantially as described.

21. In a string-cutter, a support, a tube GEO. R. HANNAN. JESSE C. RODEHAVER.

Witnesses:

A. H. STE. MARIE, CHAs. T. STANLEY. 

